Calif. Businesses Network At UN Climate Conference

California’s presence at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris this week extends beyond Governor Jerry Brown and state lawmakers.

Billionaire environmental activist Tom Steyer led a delegation of mostly California renewable energy businesses, but also Bank of America, Kaiser Permanente, and Calpine.

Like Brown, the businesses are on panels touting California’s clean energy economy.

"We have a lot to teach the world in terms of the role that entrepreneurship and innovation play, in addition to the role of treaties and negotiation," says Nancy Pfund, managing partner at investment firm DBL Partners.

The company supports an international agreement to lower carbon emissions, but also sees a networking opportunity.

"We’re getting tons of contacts, exposure to groups and companies and individuals who can be helpful to our companies," says Pfund. "We’re spreading the word about impact investing, connecting our companies to important folks, and we’re getting deal flow, obviously."

Some of the companies contributed to a non-profit organization that's paying for the politicians' travel.

As the State Government Reporter, Ben covers California politics, policy and the interaction between the two. He previously reported on local and state politics, business, energy, and environment for WFAE in Charlotte, North Carolina. Read Full Bio